Damascus is a plain little town, not much coming in, and quite frankly nothing ever going out. The people stagnate and the air stills, eventually the same conversations get cycled through just to keep the townsfolk from suffocating on their own opinions.
Jessie and Judas are a common conversation.
That conversation decided to recycle the air of the shoddy gas station and mechanic shop that sits dead center in the middle of Damascus.
The owner and cashier is an older man named Richard, he also happens to be Jessie’s boss. Richard is known for being welcoming, everybody calls him Rick and there’s never been a complaint about his service, but even he can fall victim to an enticing conversation starter. This time the hook has been thrown by one of his regulars, Heidi, similarly aged but more inclined to gossip. Today she has propped herself up on the counter while Rick is absentmindedly sorting through change.
“So how’s the shop getting on with that little blondie working the cars?” Heidi chirped, hardly trying to conceal the intentions behind her question.
“Little blondie, do you mean Jessie?” Rick glanced up from his pile of change of the counter. “That boy’s doin’ just fine, knows his way around any car I’ve thrown at him.”
“Oh I’m sure, but I guess he’s gotta be good with cars to compensate for his other issues y’know?” The skin around Heidi’s eye crinkles with implications. She’s baiting Rick, whether it be for new information or just to rile him up is unclear. Rick’s been talking to Heidi long enough to know how to avoid her digging, but today he’s bored enough to let her pick out a shovel.
“Well, i’m sure, that I don’t know what you mean by that.” Rick lies, as he usually does. “I’d say Jessie is about as up right as you can get in a place like this.” Heidi’s eyes widen, clearly amused.
“Upright my ass,” Heidi pushed off the counter to stand fully. “He is one of the most bent around, fucked up people I have ever met in my life, in your life too for god’s sake!” She raised her voice, it could’ve come off as anger but Rick knew that it was just her excitement getting the better of herself. “I’m surprised that damn dog of a friend he has ain’t wisened up and left yet.” Heidi jabbed her finger into the counter, as if it somehow made her point more factual. Before she could continue on her tirade the sound of the bells above the entrance doors rang out. A taller man stepped in quietly and stared at the two at the counter.
“Y’all talking ‘bout me?” A deep voice sounded, fresh with rasp as if he’d just woken up, or maybe had one too many cigarettes after breakfast. Rick turned his head down to conceal his grin of embarrassment, Heidi stiffened up just enough for it to be noticeable. Judas blinked expectantly at the both of them.
“Oh, don’t bat your lashes at me boy,” Heidi muttered in an attempt to gather herself again. “Plus, we were talking about ol’ Jes, your name never even got brought up baby.”
“Same damn thing,” Judas groaned as he grabbed a bag of kettle corn from the shelf on the side of the counter. Heidi’s jaw went slack, she knew Judas wasn’t exactly famous for being tactful, but she didn’t expect such bluntness either.
“And what is that supposed to mean?” She chimed again, hoping to regain some footing in the imaginary argument she believed she was in. Judas placed the bag down in front of Rick on the cash register and turned to look at Heidi. Their eyes caught and Heidi sank back slightly, an inexplicable offense was sitting in Judas’ eyes — as if she had just insulted something that was part of his very being.
“I think you’ve been around long enough to know that.” Judas stated plainly, he looked back to his purchase as Rick finished ringing him up. An uncomfortable silence hung in the air, already thick from the humidity of the summer time.
“Is- uh- that all for you today?” Rick stuttered out with noticeable force. Judas hummed in response and began to walk to the door. The bells above the door jingled as it swung open, Judas paused with a foot out the door and turned his head back.
“And don’t call him “Jes” neither,” he stopped mid sentence — a look of contemplation flashing in his eyes, he was deciding whether or not he should continue. A disingenuous smile was suddenly plastered onto his face, he had made his decision.
“Only I get to call him that.” Judas turned promptly, the door shut and the bells slowed their song. Rick glanced over to Heidi, expecting some sort of response — Heidi was lighting a cigarette instead. The conversation had served its purpose, the air was new and uncomfortably so. Now the only thing left to do was suffocate themselves again, until a new topic decided to walk through the door.
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